Vincenzo Grifo stars as Freiburg see off Köln
SC Freiburg kept up their European ambitions with a tight 2-1 win over 1. FC Köln at the Schwarzwald-Stadion as the wait for the 50,000th Bundesliga goal extends into Matchday 21.
SC Freiburg 2-1 1. FC Köln
Goals: 1-0 Grifo (32'), 1-1 Modeste (40'), 2-1 Philipp (77')
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The first big chance of the game arrived in the 20th minute when Marc Torrejon’s header left 'keeper Thomas Kessler flat-footed, but the Spaniard's effort came straight back off the post. Yuya Osako then had a free header at the other end for the Billy Goats, but was unable to turn it goalwards. Vincenzo Grifo eventually broke the deadlock with a deflected effort, that bounced over Kessler, down off the bar and over the line. The lead did not last long though as Anthony Modeste tapped home before the break after Alexander Schwolow failed to hold Leonardo Bittencourt’s effort.
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The second half began with a chance for Modeste to give Köln the lead but Schwolow denied the Frenchman from point-blank range. Both sides continued to threaten throughout the half with some lightning-quick attacks, but failed to find a crucial winner until Maximilian Philipp reacted quickest to a parry by Kessler from another dangerous Grifo free-kick. Köln then pushed for a second equaliser (and the Bundesliga’s 50,000th goal), but couldn’t find a way through.
Talking Point
There is now just one goal left until the 50,000th in the Bundesliga. The tally stands at 49,999 but there were plenty of chances for someone to write their name in history and score the landmark goal. The wait will go on until next weekend...
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Match Stats
- Modeste scored his 50th Bundesliga goal in his 109th game. On loan from Borussia Dortmund, Köln defender Neven Subotic made his first Bundesliga appearance since March 2016.Christian Streich and Peter Stöger are the longest-serving head coaches in the current Bundesliga.
Line-ups:
Freiburg: Schwolow - Kübler, Torrejon, Söyüncü, Günter - Philipp, Frantz (c) (Schuster 68'), Höfler, Grifo (Ignjovski 90+1')- Haberer, Niederlechner (Petersen 56')
Coach: Christian Streich
Köln: Kessler - Maroh, Subotic, Heintz - Sörensen, Höger (Clemens 34'), Hector (c), Rausch - Osako, Modeste, Bittencourt (Zoller 82')
Coach: Peter Stöger
Watch: Neven Subotic on his cuts and grazes after making his first Bundesliga appearance in almost a year: